Kambi's Latin America director says Brazil's betting ban has damaged investor confidence
In an interview published on 20 October 2026, Kambi's director for Latin America, Mateo Lenoble, said the provisional measure banning betting in Brazil has disrupted the supplier's plans and will leave lasting uncertainty. He also argued that a ban pushes bettors towards unregulated platforms and weakens sports integrity controls.
Brazil is a long way from South Africa, but the story is a useful case study for our own market. South Africa has no licensed online casino sector, and offshore sites fill the gap. Brazil shows what can happen when a regulated market is suddenly withdrawn: players may drift to operators outside local oversight. That is a point South African players should keep in mind when checking who licenses a site.
What happened
iGaming Business published an interview on 20 October 2026 with Mateo Lenoble, Kambi's director for Latin America. Kambi supplies sportsbook technology and says it only works in regulated markets. Lenoble said the provisional measure that banned betting in Brazil has disrupted projects the company had been developing there.
Uncertainty after a reopening
Lenoble said that even a quick resumption of activity would not remove the legal uncertainty created by the ban. In his view the doubt will persist for some time, because a breach of the rules of a regulated market that happened once could happen again. He said Kambi would be open to returning under a new regulatory framework and to supporting partners that choose to enter or return.
He added that Kambi's clients in Brazil are being supported until a final decision is reached, and that those operating only in Brazil are hit harder than groups with other licences.
The integrity argument
On sports integrity, Lenoble argued that regulation with clear rules is what lets authorities fight match-fixing and illegal gambling. Without it, he said, bettors tend to migrate to clandestine platforms and the state loses its ability to supervise. Kambi is a member of the International Betting Integrity Association and has its own integrity department. These are the views of a supplier with a commercial interest, and should be read that way.
What it means for South African players
The lesson is about licensing, not Brazil. If a casino operates outside any regulator your own country recognises, you have fewer routes for complaints. Look for a named licence and read the site's review page here before depositing. Never gamble money you cannot afford to lose.
What to watch next
Watch for a final decision on the provisional measure and for any new framework. Earlier coverage on this site tracks the court orders and congressional amendments.